Another Side to Saarinen
The Gateway to the West now has a breathtaking view from the East.
The newly christened Mississippi River Overlook in East St. Louis, Illinois, reveals a fresh new perspective of Eero Saarinen’s masterful Gateway Arch.
Designed by HOK, the 43-foot-tall viewing structure is located at Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park. A contemporary of Saarinen, Martin shared the architect’s vision of creating parks on both sides of the river. Unfortunately, neither visionary lived to see his dream fulfilled.
I asked Gyo Obata (the “O” in HOK) to share his thoughts about the overlook’s design and its significance to the region. Gyo, who studied under Eero’s dad Eliel at Cranbrook Academy of Art, also was friends with Malcolm Martin until the community leader’s passing in 2004.
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I remember being in the arch in college when I was 18, nice to see it again. Makes me think of the beautiful and growing more intricate bridges driving from the east towards the west into Kansas City on the Missouri side – spectacular art there too. I should like to visit again.
Thanks for this informative mini field trip. It is a shame we don’t get over more often for that westward view of our great city. It’s also interesting to see the river from this perspective. Impressive night shot!